Detection of Pesticide Residues in Organic and Conventional Fruits and Vegetables Available in Ireland Using Gas Chromotography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and Liquid Chromotography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Detection

Abstract

Irish organic consumers believe that organic foods are a healthier choice due to the lack of synthetic pesticides used in organic agricultural practices; however, few scientific studies have shown that organic samples are void of any pesticide residues. Nine different fruit and vegetable types of organic and conventional origin were sampled from large supermarkets. Analysis for 465 pesticide residues was carried out using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS analysis. Of the 27 organic samples tested, 15 contained one or more detected pesticide residues, with one of these being above the limit of quantification (LOQ) for the method, imazalil in organic onion, 11.13 ng/g. Of the conventional samples 17 of the 27 samples contained one or more residues. Twelve of the residues detected in conventional samples were above the LOQ with concentrations ranging from 9.84 to 154.10 ng/g. A similar number of organic (15) and conventional (17) samples tested positive for detectable residues, however the number of residues detected was higher in conventional (43) than in organic (29), and the concentration of these residues were higher. It is concluded that it cannot be said that organic fruits and vegetables are void of pesticides based on the results of this study.